Page 114 of Last Light

Someone Maria sent must have gotten there before us. Thank God the message hadn’t come too late.

Mack says, “We held it for a long time, those of us who were left from the Army and stationed there. We took in whoever we could and tried to keep ’em safe. But we’ve been attacked by gang after gang, trying to get in and get our people and supplies. Made it almost impossible for us to go out on runs for provisions. Too many people came looking for help in the past six months. We were finally running out of food and supplies, and then we got the message about the drove coming. So we couldn’t stay any longer. Had to give up on it and evacuate. It’s been too tempting a target for assholes.”

“So... so everyone is okay?” My voice breaks.

Mack gives me a sympathetic look. “As okay as they can be. No safe place in the world anymore.”

“Where did everyone go?” Travis asks.

“They split into five different caravans. Too big a target if everyone tried to travel in one. They all left throughout the day today and are heading in different directions. They’re trying to sneak out covertly so they won’t be attacked on the road.”

“Why aren’t you with one of them?” I ask.

“I’m not big on traveling in large groups. Always seemed safer to move in small numbers so you can stay hidden. Anna, Maisey, and Jenna wanted to head to West Virginia. There’s a group of women there who take care of women. They’re the ones who sent the message about the drove. I said I’d help try to find them.”

I perk up at that. “Maria and her group?”

“Yeah.” Mack’s eyes hold mine with interest. “You know ’em?”

“We met them as we were traveling. We were actually the ones who passed the message on to her.” I look at my English teacher, trying to switch her name to Anna in my mind since it would be silly to still call her Miss Jenson. “So you want to join them?”

“We ran into them along the road. I was really impressed. There’s nothing much left for us now that we lost Fort Knox, and I don’t have any family left, so I figured...” She gives a shrug. “What else can I do?”

We sit in silence for a minute.

Then Anna asks softly, “So you and Travis were heading to Fort Knox?”

“Yeah. We wanted to find the rest of Meadows.” I swallow. “Are there any... are there any of us left?”

“Yes. Not many. But some.”

Travis clears his throat. “You happen to know Cheryl? My ex-wife?”

Anna nods. “She was there. She was still alive this morning. She left with one of the caravans, along with everyone else from Meadows.”

Travis takes a shaky breath. I feel the response in his body.

Of course he’s worried about Cheryl.

Of course he needs to know she’s okay.

And of course he’s going to go find her now, following the caravan she went with.

It’s what he wanted all along.

“I know where that caravan was heading,” Mack says. “If y’all want to try to catch up with it. We’ll be moving in the same direction for a while. So we can travel together for a bit if you want.”

“Sounds good.” Travis turns his head to look at me. “That’s what you want, right? To find the rest of Meadows?”

I nod.

What the hell else can I do?

I wanted to reach Fort Knox, thinking it might offer safety.

Now all that’s left for me are the few people I still know alive.

“Okay.” Mack stands up. “I’ll take first watch. Y’all should get some sleep.”

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